Patent · US Active

Capacitive tactile tile sensor

US8127623B2 · kind B2 · utility

28Cited by
14References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 6, 2008
Grant dateMar 6, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 21, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01L5/228
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A capacitive tile tactile sensor is described and includes several groups of individual sensors each controlled by a dedicated IC. Individual sensors are formed by sensing electrodes on one side of the sensor and a single ground electrode on the other side, the ground electrode is separated from the sensing electrodes by a compressible dielectric layer. A single electrical connection between the ground electrode and the sensing electrode layer allows for routing of all electrical connections including individual electrodes and a ground electrode to appropriate ICs within the same layer using conductive ink or other similar techniques. Stand-alone configurations are described as well as those adapted for communicating with outside control means including a personal computer. Arranging groups of sensors in parallel with each other creates a matrix of sensors while arranging them along a single line creates a linear strip sensor. Using off-the-shelf capacitance-sensing ICs to control a limited number of capacitance sensors allows reducing the number of electrical connections to the sensor array and increasing its reliability.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.